It’s not about you!

A wife invited some people to dinner. At the table, she turned to their six-year-old daughter and said, “Would you like to say the blessing?”

“I wouldn’t know what to say,” the girl replied.

“Just say what you hear Mommy say,” the wife answered.

The daughter bowed her head and said, “G-d, why on earth did I invite all these people to dinner?”

***

Meet the Main Player in this weeks Torah portion: Eliezer. He’s the first emissary in the Bible, sent by his master Abraham to fetch a wife for the latter’s son, Isaac. The Torah describes in relative length the drama of the first recorded matchmaking effort in history.

Throughout the story, Eliezer encounters miracles in abundance: his prayers are answered instantly, and obstacles disappear from his path. But nevertheless, his ego remains in check; not once in the story does the Torah mention his name.

When the time comes for him to introduce himself to the bride’s family, he presents his business card. It reads: ‘Eved Avrohom Anochi’ (I am a slave from Abraham).

No name, no identity, no ‘Graduate Harvard 86, Yale 89, Feeding the starved in Albania 97, Joined the march for the homeless 2000, Top executive in a Fortune 500 company, Board member at the local JCC, Plays golf to support the local Hadassah chapter.’

Many people today try to do many good things. The quest for betterment of humanity inspires wealthy individuals to donate their money to the less fortunate; governments to initiate peace talks; celebrities to champion the cause of environmental protection. Careers in therapy, special education, and medicine are very popular.

Yet all too often, beneath the benevolence and good intentions lay a sinister fellow, commanding us to the right or the left: Ego. It hopes to achieve recognition for its righteous efforts. The dream of seeing one’s name in the papers is often an irresistible urge, spurring one on to accomplish his goal. The mission becomes an ego trip.

The Parsha encourages us to realign our goals. You don’t fight to win a medal; you fight to win the war. G-d’s war. And that’s where true success is found.

When heaven calls, stand up and cry: “Eved Avrohom Anochi! I am nothing more than a servant, a messenger from On High to make this universe a holier and safer place for all of humanity and for all of G-d’s creations.”